Jambs conlin



(No Model.)

J. CONLIN. Scythe Snath. ANo; 242,889 Patented June 14,1881.

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UNiTl-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE- JAMES OONLIN, OF WINDSOR, ASSIGNOR TO THE VERMONT SNATH COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,889, dated June 14 1881.

` Application tiled April 26, 1.831` (No model.)

To all lwhom fit may concern:

Beitknown that I, JAMES OONLIN, of Windsor, in the county ot Windsor and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scythe-Snaths; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had t0 the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

Previous to my invention scytlle-snath fastenersthat is, the contrivance or device for securing the shank of the Scythe to the lower end of the handle-have been made in a varietyV of ways.

Among the various species of contrivances of this class is that in which the root ot' the Scythe-shank is clamped to the under side of the lower end of the snath by a hook-like retaining device, which clamps the shank against the snath, while the upper end of the shank is engaged with some sort of retaining device, which is adjust-able, and by means of which the shank maybe securely held in any one of several positions in which it may be set, to insure any desired hang7 in the Scythe-blade.

My invention relates to this species of scythesnath fastener; and it consistsin certain novel features of construction, which will be herein! after more specifically pointed outand claimed.

To enable thosel skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand and practice the same, I will now proceed to more fully explain it, referrin g by letters ot reference to the accompan yin gdrawin gs,which form part of this specification, and in which I haveillnstrated, in connection with and properly applied to the lower end of a snath or handle, a fastening contrivance made according to my said invention.

Figure l is a plan or bottom view of the contrivance. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at the line fr fr of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a view of the face-plate and its accompanying parts detached from the snath, and showing the inner side of said plate and its attachments-i. e., the side next to the wood or stock of the snath.

In the several gures the same part, wherever visible, will be found designated by the same letter of reference.

A is the snath or handle, which is'cut away or slabbed off in very much the usual fashion,

into the stock of the snath, as shown, while the flat part of thevferrule B is cut away for ,its accommodation, and the upper end of the stem or shank o is threaded, and provided with a nut, d, all in a manner well known. On the llat cut-away portion or under face of the snath, land covering over nearly or quite all of said slabbed-off part ofthe handle, is securely fastened by three wood-screws, f, (or otherwise,) a metal face-plate, F, which has cut through it two curved openings, (marked, respectively, g and h,) and to which is pivoted at .t a vihratory or swinging arm, G, arranged on the inner surface of said face-plate F. The said arm G is pivoted by the stud t' (which projects through a hole in and is upset or riveted on the outer face of plate F) in such a manner that it shall he free to turn, and also capable of a slight amount of play or motion at its free end toward and from the inner face of plateF. The object of pivoting said arm G in this manner is to permit the necessary amount of play or movement ol' said arm away from and toward the plate F at the free end 'of said arm, to render possible and easy a disengagement and re-engagement ot' the teeth of said arm with the serrations atm on the plate F, whenever it may be desired to change the position of the free end of the arm Grelatively to the plate F, for the purpose of varying the position of the perforation in which is held the claw of the Scythe-shank.

At the free end of the arm G projects outward, protruding through theslotg, a shortstud or pin,j, which is threaded and provided with a 11ut,lc, and between the location of said stud or pin and the pivoted end of arm G, (and nearer to said pin or st-ud,) projects outward from said arm a square lug, l, which, together with the arm Gitself, is perforated by a square hole, for the reception or accommodation of lOO the claw or projection on the tang or shank of the scythe. The curved apertures g and It, through which protrude, respectively, the stud j and the lug l, are formed in the arcs of circles, the common center of which is coincident with the axis of the pivot t', and hence the said pin or studj and the said lug Z can move freely (as the arm G may be vibrated) in the curved slots g and h.

That portion of the inner surface of plate F which lies between the curved apertures g and h is provided with a series of indentures or serrations, as clearly seen at m, (see Fig. 4,) and that part of the adjacent surface of the arm G that lies immediately opposite said series of serrations or cuts has projecting from it several rib-like teeth, adapted to engage with said serrations m, when the arm G may be forced into close contact with the inner face of the plate F, the said teeth and serrations being arrangethof course, in lines representing the radii ot' a circle having its center at t'.

In view ofthe foregoing description of the several parts and their structures, the following explanation will suffice to make clear the operation of the contrivance shown.

rlhe usual bent talig or shank of the scythe having been inserted from below through the loop-like clamping device C, while the latteris loosened up, and the claw at the upper end of the tang having been inserted in the square hole ofthe lug` t, the clamping device at the lower end of the snathis tightened up or drawn in by turning the nut d in the usual manner, to clamp the root ot' the shank or tangin place; but before clamping the root of the talig in place the claw or upper end may be set to any desired position, so as to regulate the hang of the Scythe-blade, by loosening the nut 7c sufficiently to allow the free end of the arm G to drop away from the inner face of plate F far enough to throw its teeth out of engagement with the serrations m, vibrating said arm G to the desired position, and then screwing up again said nut It'.

It will be seen that by the construction of adjusting device shown for holding the upper or claw end of the tang at any desired locality (within the range of motion of which the perforated lug l is capable) a simple and economical fixture is produced, in which all the parts are connected together in an operative condition and ready for use in the manufacture of the fixture, and in which the vibratory claw-holding arm is inclosed between the inner surface of the face-plate F and the cutout portion of (or the housing in) the wood or stock of the snath A.

The interlocking or engaging devices, (at m,) which prevent the possibility of any slip between the arm G and the opposing surface of plate F, will, by reason of the arrangement of the parts shown, be easily thrown out of engagement when the scythe is turned into a position convenient for any readjustment of the hang, and the construction of the inclosed arm G with the outwardly-projecting.stud j and perforated lug l enables me to make the latter sufficiently strong without much width to the lug, (and consequently permits amaximum extent of throw in the curved slot,) and also enables me to dispense with a separate and longer bolt to secure the free end of arm G, and avoids the necessity of cutting or boring a hole or aperture clear through the snath A at this part of it.

In operation or practical use the scythe shank or tang may be removed and replaced again, whenever necessity may requireit, without disturbing the adjustable arm G, and consequently without risk of changing the hang or swing of the blade from any given position I in which it may have been set to suit the convenience of the user ofthe implement.

Of course thedeta-ils of construction of each part may be varied without departing from the gist of my invention, so long as the several parts shall be made to involve the princples of construction shown, and the arrangement of the devices may be changed without losing the essence ofthe invention, so long as Athe described mode of operation of thecontrivance is retained.

Having now so fully described the construction and operation of my improved contrivance that those skilled in the art can make and use scythesnath fasteners embodying my invention, what I claim in said contrivance as new, and desire "to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

l. I n combination with the snath A andthe usual loop-like clamping device, arranged at the lowerendor heel of thesnath and adapted to secure the root of the scythe-shank in place, a vibratory arm, G, arranged beneath and pivoted to the covering-plate F, and provided with means for effecting its securement in a fixed relative position to the plate F, and for thereception and retention in place of the claw end ofthe Scythe-shank, as set forth.

2. In combination with the face-plate F, having curved apertures g and L, an arm, G, pivoted to said faceplate in the manner described, and formed with an outwardly-projecting pin or stud,j, and lug Z, the whole arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with a face-plate, F, pro vided with radially-arranged serrations, as at m, an arm, G, provided with projections to enga-ge with said serrations, and means for clamping it against the plate F, and having its pivotal connection with said plate permanent, but such as to permit a suihcient play to permit the disengagement of the interlocking devices, all substantially as set forth.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of April, 1881.

JAMES UONLIN.

In presence of J W. HAs'rINGs, JEROME W. PIERCE.

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